Fire-extinguishing material



Patented Feb. 17, 1931 STATES PATENT OFFICE DAVID JULIAN BLOCK, or enrcaeo, znnmoirs, essrenon 'ro nu-(ms rms Ex'rm- GUISHER coarorm'rron, on NEW YORK, N. Y., A coaronarron or DELAWARE rnm-nx'rmemsnme MATERIAL No Drawing.

This invention relates to a composition of matter and more particularly to fire extinguishing material adapted to be used in the form of a dry powder.

It is an object of this invention to; provide means for preventing the normal tendency of certain materials, such as salts and other chemicals, to cake and lump up on standing,

'guishers.

particularly materials that are ordinarily packaged in sifter top containers and on that account or for other reasons should possess freely flowing properties.

As described in the co-pending application of Lodias J. Dugas, Ser. #220 621, filed September 9, 1927, the use of a dry re extinguishing material such as sodium bicarbonate in connectlon with a gas under pressure for discharging the material, presents certain advantages over the usual type of liquid extin- Sodium bicarbonate, however, has some tendency to take up moisture from the air and to cake when left in the'container for conslderable periods of time, and for this reason its use is not entirely satisfactory;

It is therefore a further object of this invention to provide a fire extinguisher powder comprised largely of sodium bicarbonate and containing a substance adapted to prevent raking of the bicarbonate and to render it substantially water repellant, so that the powder will flow readily under any, conditions of atmospheric humidity.

Other and further objects of this invention will become apparent from the following description and appended claims.

I have now found that the addition of salts of fatty acids to materials having hygroscopic properties or having a tendency to cake upon poured directly upon the mixture without ap-,

parently wetting the powder and without any appreciable solvent action. Although any of the metallic stearates such as mm or aluminum may be employed, I prefer to usemag nesium stearate. It willbe understood,'however, that the corresponding oleates or palmi- Application filed September 22, I928. Serial No. 307,785.

tates may be used with very satisfactory re sults, and that the use of these salts of fatty acids for this purpose is widely applicable in the caseof many materials and chemicals other than sodium bicarbonate.

In preparing a satisfactory fire extinguishing powder, -I prefer to mix with the bicarbonate containing a fatty acid salt,'a Small quantity of tricalcium phosphate,-which has in. some degree the propert of oau sing the mixture to pour readily even in mbistyveather, and'a small amount of light magnesium carbonate to increase the bulk of the mixture. As an example of a, satisfactory composition of my fire extinguisher powder, the following analysis is given:

a Pericejit Sodium bicarbonate; '97 Magnesium stearate 1 Magnesium carbonate 1 Tricalcium phospl1ate Obviously, the percentage the various ingredients may be'varied considerably, and

without clogging up.

Similarly, addition of small quantities of a metallic stearate, or other fatty acid salt, to"various other materials and chemicals, such for instance as common salt, substantially prevents all tendency of the materials to absorb moisture and cake up. Wherever the-materials must have freely flowing properties' in order to be satisfactory to the trade, my invention is in general applicable.

I am aware that numerous details may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and

I, therefore, do not purpose limiting the pat;

ent granted hereon otherwise than necessi tated by the prior art.

- I claim as my invention:

1. A composition of matter, comprising a material normally havin a tendency to cake on standing and a metallic salt of a fatt acid adapted to render such material su tantially non-caking.

2. A composition of matter, comprising a material normally having a tendency to take up moisture and cake on standin and ajrelatively small quantity of a meta lic stearate adapted to prevent such tendency.

3. The method of eliminating the tendency of certain materials to cake, which comprise adding to such materials a-relatively small quantity of a metallic salt ofa fatty acid.

4. The method of eliminating the tendency of certain materials to cake, which comprises addin to such materials a relatively small quantity of a metallic stearate, thereby imparting freely flowing properties to said materials.

5. Fire extinguishing material, comprising principally dry sodium bicarbonate and a relatively small amount of a metal salt of a fatty acid adapted to render the bicarbonate water repellant and non-caking.

6. Fire extinguishing material, comprising principally dry sodium bicarbonate and a relatively small amount of a metal salt of stearic acid adapted to render the bicarbonate water repellent and non-caking.

7. Fire extinguishin material, comprising princi ally dry so ium' bicarbonate and a relative y small amount of magnesium stearate adapted to render the bicarbonate water repellent and non-caking.

8. A non-caking, dry fire extinguishlng material, comprising sodium bicarbonate,

ate.

9. A non-caking dry fire extinguishing ma terial, comprising approximately 97% sodium bicarbonate, 1.5% magnesium stearate, 1% magnesium carbonate and A;% tri-calcium phosphate.

10. Fire extinguishing material characterized by its non-caking, freely flowing properties under varying conditions of humidity, comprising a powdered mixture of a carbon dioxide generating salt and a water insoluble soap having water repellant properties.

11. Fire extinguishing material comprising principally a salt that decomposesvwhen heated to liberate carbon dioxide and a relatively small proportion of a water insoluble soap, the material being a finely powdered freely flowing mixture having water repellant properties.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name at Chicago, Cook County,

nJULmN BLOCK.

meaeao tri-calcium phosphate and magnesium stear- 

